WPY 2014

Fish-eye view

The heron stared down at Joshua, eyes bulging. For a second Joshua stared right back. Looking up at the bird, it was easy for him to imagine what it might be like to be a fish, waiting for that deadly beak to strike. It was one of those truly serendipitous moments. Joshua had wandered down to Pen Ponds in Richmond Park, London, which is home to a handful of grey herons. A scuffle had just broken out between two males. Joshua watched as one heron chased the other around the lake, driving it off the water and into the tree he was standing under. Seizing the moment, Joshua lifted his camera and lens off the tripod and shot up through the branches, catching the moment the heron turned its attention to him. To Joshua, it was ‘amazing to see such a common bird in a completely new way’.

Photograph Details

Finalist 2014

15-17 Years

Joshua Burch, United Kingdom

Fish-eye view

The heron stared down at Joshua, eyes bulging. For a second Joshua stared right back. Looking up at the bird, it was easy for him to imagine what it might be like to be a fish, waiting for that deadly beak to strike. It was one of those truly serendipitous moments. Joshua had wandered down to Pen Ponds in Richmond Park, London, which is home to a handful of grey herons. A scuffle had just broken out between two males. Joshua watched as one heron chased the other around the lake, driving it off the water and into the tree he was standing under. Seizing the moment, Joshua lifted his camera and lens off the tripod and shot up through the branches, catching the moment the heron turned its attention to him. To Joshua, it was ‘amazing to see such a common bird in a completely new way’.

Technical specification

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Joshua Burch, United Kingdom

Already an award-winning photographer, Joshua loves capturing local wildlife on camera to show his family and friends the amazing nature that is on their doorsteps. He has recently embarked on his first serious photography projects close to home, working with the foxes in his garden to earn their trust and understand their behaviour.